St. Edmund Exchange Begins

St. Edmund Exchange Begins

St. Edmund Preparatory High School students are quite thankful to have friends in England who consoled their broken hearts after 9/11. This has led to the development of an Exchange Program, which will begin in mid-October.

After the 9/11 tragedy the St. Edmund Girls’ School, in Salisbury, England wanted to show their support so they found St. Edmund Prep High School in Brooklyn on the Internet.

The students from England wrote letters comforting the Brooklyn students and faculty. They also wrote letters of condolences to individuals who lost a loved one. A box containing letters, poems, drawings and pictures of students in England was received shortly after 9/11.

Folders with personal letters were also created for individuals in the St. Edmund community who lost a family member. Those letters were delivered. A check was received for $1,500, which was raised by the students in England.

That $1,500 was added to the $29,000 raised by a Walk-A-Thon held in Marine Park. The money was divided into two funds. A check was given to the Windows of Hope Relief Fund in memory of firefighter Daniel Suhr, whose wife is an alumnus of St. Edmund Prep High School. The balance of the money was used to establish a scholarship fund.

Tears and smiles were exchanged between Brooklyn and England as students wrote thank you letters and poems. Sweatshirts, key chains, stuffed animals, pens, and pictures of school events were sent to England. This made the friendship stronger. The friendship continues via e-mails.

The St. Edmund Prep High School students were especially grateful because it gave them hope and it helped them discuss their feelings during their time of need.

This past spring Development Director Chris Wright and Academic Dean and English coordinator Ray Malafronte went to Salisbury, England to visit with the administration and set up an Exchange Program. They met with Tristram Hobson, Assistant Head Teacher and Jacqui Goodall, Head Teacher. Wright and Malafronte presented them with a Lenox Eagle wrapped around the American flag since the eagle is the school mascot.

The Exchange Program has started with the girls’ school, but in the future they might do an exchange with the St. Edmund Boys School, which is adjacent to the girls school. The exchange has been set for October 20 to 26, which is when the Brooklyn students will be in England with English teacher Mrs. Moquin. They will return to the U.S. with the girls from England who will spend time in Brooklyn from October 27 to 31.

Plans are being finalized for their arrival, including deciding on what programs will provide the best possible experience for the British students.